Takeaways from Rams preseason win against Denver

[shovelpass]

Doesn't really fit here, but don't want to start a new thread.

 

[majrleaged]

wake me when the season starts

 

[Frogbelly]

You could be right. I hope he is activated week one.

I was not saying Henderson would be in the backfield to block on third downs. More likely McVay would get him the ball on smoke screens, regular screens, shorter cross routes, wheel routes, and maybe an occasional deeper route to keep defenses on guard on earlier downs. He should see some jet motion plays and some runs from the backfield. When the Rams drafted him I thought a realistic target amount would be 5-7 touches a game. He is so explosive McVay should want to get the ball in his hands.

I see them using him somewhat like they used Tavon

 

[Merlin]

Evans & Edwards both getting better every game. Edwards doesn't look as comfortable at OG, but that's probably because he's been getting a lot of OT time. Evans still needs to work those feet on the edge. Brewer had some OT time and wasn't terrible, he continues to surprise.

OT depth is probably better than most teams. Not even remotely worried about it.

Kolone looks to be getting better at Center which helps him a lot with Neary out for four weeks. Neary btw got trucked quite a bit vs Denver. Demby played better but still had some whiffs in short yardage and I'm still not sure he'll make the cut.

OG depth is probably bottom third of the league. Center depth same, and I think it's worse than our OG depth.

Going with only 2 QBs does help us keep another wideout. Rams will almost surely keep 7 WRs barring a trade, it's really hard to imagine them cutting Hodge or Thomas. IMO both make it and so does Web as the returns.

Overall it's hard to complain, and if the main complaint is interior OL depth that means this roster is loaded.

 

[kurtfaulk]

I see them using him somewhat like they used Tavon

But Henderson can catch the ball, and catch it well. So they will actually throw the ball to him. Mcvay didn't trust tavon at all in the passing game.

.

 

[Merlin]

Darrell Henderson may not have a Week 1 role
The bar was set high for Darrell Henderson when the Rams selected him in the third-round of the 2019 NFL Draft. That bar may have been set a little too high.

Ridiculous tbh. Henderson hasn't had any opportunity to show what he can do outside of some passing game contributions (where his hands will be noted by opposing DCs).

Rams know damn well what they have in him. He just has to get a little better when he doesn't have the ball (i.e. pass pro) which is common with the young RBs.

 

[oldnotdead]

In regards to Henderson, he is exactly what I pictured him to be when drafted. I've always maintained he was a supplementary, i.e. complementary RB to Gurley. The fan expectations for him were unrealistic. Stupid media seemed to think it herald the demise of Gurley. I will say it again he's not an every down RB. At this point, he's not even a 3rd down RB because he hasn't shown he can pass block. Right now Malcolm Brown is the 3rd down back because he can both catch, run the ball, but most of all he's the best pass blocking RB on the team. Brown simply lacks the breakaway speed to be a threat that Gurley is. Brown has basically average speed in the 4.6 range. He's a power runner and that is his role.

Henderson IMO is likely to play in a 2 RB set. I bet a lot of the time he will be lined up in the slot and run the jet sweep motion. As a receiver, he's a mismatch for LB's and even some SS. He's got good speed, but more importantly, when you watch his film it's his acceleration that stands out. He's a slashing type of RB who isn't as we have seen going to break tackles.

Bottom line is Henderson will be a very good offensive weapon when employed properly. Force defenses to account for him opening up other options for Goff and McVay.

The o-line rotation will sort itself out as the young guys gain experience. I think the offense might carry 7 WR's: Woods, Cooks, Kupp, Reynolds, Hodge, Thomas & Webster. Obviously, Webster will be primarily the designated returner. They can make room for that extra WR by simply not carrying a 3rd TE who never plays anyway. If it ever came to that, Josh Reynolds can line up in the TE position. As I've pointed out previously, the TE's run the Y (slot receiver) route tree so he knows that already.

It's very rare that Ram TE's perform inline blocking. Most are of the chip variety. That's why I'm saying this team doesn't need to carry 3 TE's. An extra WR is far more valuable. Also, why release a WR to be picked up by AZ or SF?

Bottom line I came away from that game saying to myself that this team is ready for a SB run because it is deep all over the roster.

 

[Ramstien]

Especially if Neary is out with injury. None of the backups (save Neary) are ready to play in a regular season game.

I have to disagree with this statement, Neary looked like the weakest link on a backup OL. He was consistently getting beat by his man and was constantly chasing after the man he was suppose to be blocking. I doubt the Rams will miss his poor performance.

 

[Loyal]

I hope no one sleeps on John Kelly. That dude runs nasty and looks like a more complete back to me than DH. Love Henderson's home run ability, but I love JKs running style more. He's a voiolent SOB. Needs to get better in pass pro though.

Welp, that was why he wasn’t on the field much last year. If you are a RB that can’t block a defensive player who is about to kill the QB, then you won’t see the field.

 

[fearsomefour]

I have to disagree with this statement, Neary looked like the weakest link on a backup OL. He was consistently getting beat by his man and was constantly chasing after the man he was suppose to be blocking. I doubt the Rams will miss his poor performance.

He was a little better than how he had played previously. Pass blocking mostly stayed in from of his guy. Run blocking, was ok. He was beaten a couple of times in three games.
Both rookies tackles varied between bad and ok at times.
Brewer was mostly solid while occasionally getting beaten.
Everyone else was a turnstile.

 

[Merlin]

I have to disagree with this statement, Neary looked like the weakest link on a backup OL. He was consistently getting beat by his man and was constantly chasing after the man he was suppose to be blocking. I doubt the Rams will miss his poor performance.

Yeah it surprised me. He was knocked back to the extent that he prevented blocks by the TE on some plays. You can't have that.

Re: Center... Kolone got a lot of work and has improved in the middle and IMO has made the team with that on top of his showing at OG.

 

[OldSchool]

But Henderson can catch the ball, and catch it well. So they will actually throw the ball to him. Mcvay didn't trust tavon at all in the passing game.

.

There are teams that would start some of our depth and call it an upgrade!

 

[oldnotdead]

Kolone struggled at center. Also, I think his major issue is making o-line calls. Their blocking calls showed big issues. Like I said the center making the wrong call can make others, especially the OG's look bad.

Brewer is one of the few pure OG's on the team. He played only OG on both sides this preseason. He wasn't a standout but he wasn't bad either. It will be interesting if they keep him on the PS and also coach him up at C. Brewer is typical of a Snead o-line signing. Brewer played most of his college snaps at OG but had the athleticism to play OT (both sides) as an injury replacement. In other words he has good feet. In his senior year the offense passed 450 times that season. Brewer only gave up 2 sacks. He only gave up one obvious pressure that I saw. But again I don't know what the blocking call was by the center.

I would be surprised if Brewer didn't make this team either as a 9th lineman or on the PS.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Kolone struggled at center. Also, I think his major issue is making o-line calls. Their blocking calls showed big issues. Like I said the center making the wrong call can make others, especially the OG's look bad.

Brewer is one of the few pure OG's on the team. He played only OG on both sides this preseason. He wasn't a standout but he wasn't bad either. It will be interesting if they keep him on the PS and also coach him up at C. Brewer is typical of a Snead o-line signing. Brewer played most of his college snaps at OG but had the athleticism to play OT (both sides) as an injury replacement. In other words he has good feet. In his senior year the offense passed 450 times that season. Brewer only gave up 2 sacks. He only gave up one obvious pressure that I saw. But again I don't know what the blocking call was by the center.

I would be surprised if Brewer didn't make this team either as a 9th lineman or on the PS.

Well, as i've mentioned a few times prior, if the Rams were to keep 9 offensive linemen, i'd prefer those final 2 to be Brewer and Hrynkiewicz, as we would be best served covering Center, OG and RT. If we only keep 8, I believe it may come down to Kolone or Demby, as they each now play C and OG. The problem being is there are so many good depth players at other positions, that keeping 9 OLinemen is also going to cost us depth at another important position. jmo.

 

[Hram]

Blythe can move to center which makes the center depth pretty good imo.

Doesn’t help with the OG depth which is shaky.